Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials for attending this meeting and for the update on the review of the planning legislation. It is long overdue, so it is very welcome. We want to support the officials in this work. One of the things that is being cited as a major threat to the Government's ability to address the housing crisis is planning. It comes up repeatedly as an impediment in the feedback from both the construction industry and other stakeholders.

This review needs to focus on how the planning process can be improved to de-risk construction or at least reduce the risk involved in it, and to reduce the cost, given the crisis is characterised by the lack of availability, the cost and the lack of affordability. Will that be captured in the review and will it be a specific objective?

How is the Department engaging with local authority members on this review? Councillors and elected local representatives have the challenge of making the county and city development plans, so they can provide an invaluable input into the Department's work. How is the Department engaging them in this process and review?